author
Boris Sidis
1867–1923
An early psychologist and physician, he explored suggestion, hypnosis, and the hidden layers of the mind at a time when modern psychology was still taking shape. His work also reflected a strong interest in education and the ways human abilities could be developed.
2 Audiobooks
Nervous ills, their cause and cure
by Boris Sidis
Philistine and genius
by Boris Sidis
About the author
Born in the Russian Empire in 1867 and later active in the United States, Boris Sidis became known as a psychologist, physician, psychiatrist, and philosopher of education. He was part of the early generation of thinkers who helped shape modern discussions of the subconscious, mental suggestion, and abnormal psychology.
Sidis wrote widely on psychology and education, and he helped found both the New York State Psychopathic Institute and the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. His book The Psychology of Suggestion is among his best-known works, showing his interest in hypnosis, suggestibility, and the workings of the mind.
He is also often remembered as the father of William James Sidis, the famous child prodigy. But Boris Sidis stands on his own as a notable and sometimes unconventional figure in American intellectual life, especially for readers interested in the history of psychology and the study of human consciousness.